Everything Has Changed

Chapter 13

It was now July, and Sportacus seemed as he was trying to avoid any contact with Jessica. He wanted to be mostly alone, and it began to hurt her too. She only saw him when he asked her to watch Joshua since he had "other things to do" – but actually, he went to visit Stephanie's grave in the cemetery. She understood he needed to do it and give him some time, but it started to annoy her a little.

And watching Joshua wasn't easy all the time. Sure, it was a good practice for her, but not when he's trying to start talking.

She was strolling with him in the LazyTown park, when she heard him mumbling something. She stopped and bent down in front of him, trying to listen.

"M... M..." he tried to say, and Jessica carefully listened.

Finally, he managed to say his first word – "Mama".

He said it a couple more times as he tried to reach to Jessica's face with his little hand.

"Oh, dear god, no! That's not good, he's going to kill me!" Jessica cried.

"Who's going to kill you?" she heard a voice from behind. She then raised her head and her eyes grew wide.

"Mom?! What are you doing here?" Jessica asked surprised.

"Can't I take a vacation this summer, too? I left my shop in the hands of my assistant manager, and I'm going to stay here for a week in the LazyTown Hotel and be with you a little." Gabriella, her mother, explained.

"That would be really great." Jessica smiled.

"And I'm guessing this little guy is Joshua." Gabriella bent down to see him as Joshua grabbed her finger.

"Yes, and now he called me 'Mama' and I don't think that Sportacus is going to like it." Jessica told her and bit her bottom lip.

"Why are you saying that?"

"Because Stephanie's death is affecting him now and he's avoiding me because of that, and-" Jessica was almost out of breath when Gabriella cut her off.

"So what? Technically, you're the woman who's raising him, not Stephanie. It is only natural for him to call you that. He doesn't know anything else." Gabriella told her.

"You're right, maybe I'm just freaking out." Jessica sighed and the three went toward the hotel.

*****

After Gabriella settled her suitcases in the hotel room, she went back to Jessica and Joshua.

"So tell me, do you have any big plans for this week?" Gabriella asked.

"I don't know if it's big enough, but... I have my first ultrasound check tomorrow." Jessica smiled.

"Oh, that's great, honey! Does Sportacus comes with you?" Gabriella asked.

"Mom, don't you remember what I told you earlier? He's trying to avoid me lately! How can I tell him that? I only see him when he asks me to watch Joshua." Jessica told her, and she sounded pretty mad.

"Well, then how about I'll come with you?" Gabriella suggested.

"I'd love that, mom. I really need the support more than ever." Jessica said.

"You're welcome, honey." Gabriella smiled and hugged her.

*****

Around 6:30pm, Jessica went to return Joshua to Sportacus, and Gabriella joined her.

She knocked on the door until he answered.

"Hey..." She whispered, trying not to wake up Joshua, who fell asleep in his stroller.

"Hi." Sportacus smiled.

"Um, come in." he opened the door wider and let the women in.

"Um, Sportacus, this is my mother, Gabriella." Jessica introduced her mother, and the two shook their hands.

"It's finally nice to meet you." Gabriella smiled.

"It's nice to meet you too." Sportacus smiled back.

"Well, um, there are some things I need to tell you before I leave. First, I won't be available tomorrow because I'm going to hang out with my mom, so I won't be able to come and talk as you wanted, but we can do it later." She told him.

"Oh, that's too bad, but I understand." He told her, his face showed a little of disappointment.

"Yeah, and second... Um... Joshua kinda said his first word today." She told him nervously.

"Really? Ugh, and I missed it. Can you tell me what it was?" he asked.

"Um, yeah... He said 'mama'. To me." She told him and gulped.

"Wow, that's really great." He smiled.

"R-Really?" Jessica asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. I must admit it, I sometimes call you 'Mommy Jessica' when I talk to him. So I guess it was just natural for him too to call you that." He explained.

"I guess so..." Jessica smiled and even blushed a little.

Gabriella just enjoyed herself in every moment.

"Well, I think we'll be going now. Goodnight." Jessica turned and left with her mother.

When they were far enough from his house, Gabriella burst in laugh.

"What?" Jessica didn't understand.

"I'm sorry, but this was pretty funny. You were all tense and he wasn't mad at you at all." Gabriella told her and Jessica just shook her head.

"But what does he want to talk to you about tomorrow?" she asked her daughter.

"No idea. Anyway, I'll meet you in the lobby of the hotel around 8:00am, ok?" Jessica told her.

"No problem. Goodnight, sweetie." Gabriella kissedher daughter's forehead and the two went to their separate ways.